Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Even As We Are Told to Celebrate ...

So what I wonder is who decided that the presence or lack of an epicanthal fold determines one's superiority.

One thing that disturbs me more than anything else in life is when people pull at their eyes in imitation of Asian peoples. My father did that and my brother's friends do that. My father's parents used to refer to us as "the round-eyed people" and sneered that the "Chinamen" needed to learn English, that the way they spoke was absurd (to which I say, jiba, qing lianxi ni de zhongwen!). Recently I have been researching Epicanthoplasty - the spacing out of the epicanthal fold, or "Westernization" of the Asian eyelid.

That same day I learnt from http://www.healthline.com/blogs/diet_nutrition/2008/03/skinny-on-being-thin.html that being ridiculed for being thin happens too. Not just being fat.

And then I found this disgusting rant on http://www.momlogic.com/2008/08/size_12_youre_fat.php, which reminded me, once again, that I am the wrong shape and size.

Weight. Color. The shape of the face, nose, and eyes. What Makes You You. Are these things to be celebrated?

Yes.

At least, that's what we hear from encouraging voices ... because they are THERE in the media, even if they are not always heard as clearly as the others. But I grew up reading American Girl Library and lots of books on how your shape and size and What Makes You You were meant to be celebrated and enjoyed, so I have heard that everyone is special and unique.

But it's not always so easy.

Are these really things to be celebrated? Sure. But we don't want to celebrate them. We want them to be different.

It is not easy to celebrate who we are.

3 comments:

Siri said...

That was an interesting rant at Momlogic - the first one and the Size 12 who responded. It really is all about being comfortable with who you are, not with who others think you should be. As someone wise said "comparisons are odious." (wish I could remember who that was.)

Am I in good shape? No. Do I have health issues that would be corrected if I worked at being in good shape? Yes? Did my life change the time I lost 75 lbs? No. What did I learn from that? I am who I am - I work at being healthier for me, not for being beautiful by someone else's standards.

I believe you know these things, too. I believe you are a very strong woman, raised by a very strong woman. I'm glad to hear what you think.

EmilyLady said...

I do know these things and I do work on it. And you know, some days I do celebrate my curves and round face and deep-set brown eyes.

Dragonsally said...

my god, was the momlogic post for real? Its just so wrong in every way. What Siri said (I am who I am - I work at being healthier for me, not for being beautiful by someone else's standards. ) is so true.